All user reviews for the Akai Professional APC40

How long have you been using?

I Racu on Christmas Eve.

Had tried many other models before buying

APC 20 that there are few effects knobs, I preferred a mdèle reference for all users of the APC 20 Ableton with it is just perfect for a Mive simple, but APC 40 has an interface which is directly connected to a USB

What is so special that you like most.

effects knobs that can control the knobs from VST Instruments and Effects in Ableton, can grind ls knobs Freeware VST effects.

what feature do you like the least.

no, for different reasons, because there is no downside.

value for money.

enough in Music Shop in Strasbourg, my father paid € 400

If you are an Ableton Live user then you need to go out and buy the AKAI Professional APC 40 as soon as you can, it is a USB based controller that has a total of 109 different buttons! 9 different faders and a cross fader and it is compatible with Macs and PC’s. This is the best performance controller for Ableton Live by far in to me.

The APC 40 is made to use with performing, if you need hands on control over Ableton Live then you must have the APC40, there is also an APC 20 which is about 100 dollars cheaper but it is missing some pretty key functions. On the APC 40 there are a total of 40 clip triggers a cross fader, tap temp and 16 knobs. The APC40 is easy to set up and its plug and play so if you are a live performer you will have no problem showing up, plugging in and start rocking the house effortlessly. Because this is made for Ableton Live the set up process could not be quicker, it basically does all the work for your when installing.

Outside of all of the cool features of the APC 40, there is a huge issue with it. The problem is that it is not well built at all. The knobs are very cheap and will break off if you use it a lot and travel with it a lot. I don’t see this unit lasting someone who uses it a lot and travels with it, more than 6 months without it falling apart. If you do lose a knob or two it will not make the APC40 stop working but it will or could affect your performance and most definitely the look of the APC40 with missing knobs. Also the “nudge” button isn’t well but. Seems like if you put a little to much stress on it changing tempo’s then eventually it will come off and not hold up for you.

The APC 40 is a must have but use it with caution and don’t be surprised if you take it somewhere to perform and come home with missing knobs and buttons.

I do not have anything more to add that the word used in my title, this controller has been developed for a specific software, unlike other MIDI controllers that they should be assigned several apps, the APC40 it dedicated to Ableton LIVE and it's just ... great!

In the more he is made of materials of good quality, the crossfader is very flexible (like a mixer), the faders are sturdy with a 60 mm stroke, potentiometers (unlimited travel!) Are also super strong well inked and they are all accompanied by LED level (useful when playing in dark places!) when the various buttons, SIR!

Come on, the only small weakness, it might be that all a can be a bit much ... plastics, metal knobs and faders on the tables as VESTAX example might have been yet made the machine more "noble" but hey, the frame is metal and the unit works great.

In short, super bike!

It does not quite a year since I have and I could not do without!
I like the most? the next full live under your fingers!
I like the least? the absence of motorized faders! is all that is lacking in APC!
I use an evolution uc16 for some parameters that I want on hand at all times but apart from that, everything goes through the apc (except the keyboard of course). I have connected a switch to guitar amp footswitch on taking to control the looper when I scratch or any other idea or no hand available.
Some compare the Launchpad Novation to the series of APC, but personally I think, apart from the side "Ableton touch", that machines are not comparable. my choice headed over to the APC as the launchpad because I had the pads and I like the feel of the faders.
I would do if I had the choice to do it again because it's exactly what I needed in my set. if I were to Akai engineers in charge of this project, I would not have imagined otherwise. I just put the motorized fader ..

Good dj's view is that slab Mimimachin ...

Commenons:

- How long have you use it?

Since its release (before even ... )
I was waiting at a halt!

- What is the particular feature you like best and least?

Assets:
ntgration Live with almost perfect (you can remap if you want) but the original dj's something!
Open a project and see all assign idle is a great time saver and ergonomics.

The quality of manufacture is nikel, and I heard a complaint, but frankly I tried the Controller (the same shovel) and I love the rendering, touch. .. Annes Lumire of the UC33 cheapos of stuff ...

Being able to virtually navigate without a mouse in his live set / project is not bad too

Finally I like everything in this BCAN is easy!

Cons: Some instability of both (but mostly because of old assignment midi ...) therefore remove / delete its old values ​​/ assignment before any thing else: mess!

- Have you tried many other models before acqurir?

Ohh yeah! lots! And this one is when even the most advanced Live for the moment (forcment there will be others ...)

- How do you report qualitprix?

Hmmm ... not forcment given for "a simple Controller" but it's so well made that Intgr forget a lot of other surface CONTRL.
Anyway for me the quality is to go.

- With the exprience, you do again this choice? ...

Without a single second hsiter!
I Live redcouvre my sets and my projects.
But keep the sprit that a Controller to the east "Live" and not too much for Fast Fashion (though I use it to also ...) then combined with a Keyboard Controller matre good style or Remote MPK sl 25/37: the good you have a full combo.

Another thing: The Live Aka Included is not "mandatory" ... if you have the 8 (see the latest version of 7 days), just put the APC surface 40 of control and hop

Anyway I who am an old user of Ableton Live, this machine is just TIP TOP, the physical extension of my software.

How long have you use it?

I use it for one day

Have you tried many other models before acqurir?

I have a lot of controller: evolution uc 33, akai mpd 24, novation remote zero ... and has nothing to do.

What is the particular feature you like best and least?

most: intgration perfect hardware / software
not need to configure, one branch and have fun
the ease of handling
the quality of manufacturing

the least: no midi out
the brightness of light in full pads
the work surface is fairly flat feet should have been inclined as zero on the remote ...

How do you report qualitprix?

buy 449 euros, it is on is a bit expensive. the quality seems good.

Exprience with, you will do again this choice?

I have only been one day and I feel it is the always so simple to use ...
it can really improvise on Ableton Live, I redcouvre my sets.
I would do this without any choice hsitations

<span style="font-weight: normal;">I utiliise last night, 25septies.

the controller is fantastic, I have an MPD32 egalemet and 3 small Faderfox controllers>>> but a big notch above the apc
for once the controller provides a twelve o'clock + + + + for a live performance,
it happens sometimes the screen.
the finish is really very nice, the buttons are not cheap, everything is very well studied. when playing is fun, the mix is much more fluid
The only drawback is probably the colors on the pads too low when playing days with the sun beating down (especially green), apart from the default microphone at night it is beautiful and it is a regal to use the beast
I recommend it to all users live to 450 euros, the price is right, quality is to go
I would put the pads for nine days, must make the shadow with his hand, to use in places a bit dark lol

</span>

Hello,

APC40 I ​​use for a month and it's really the killer!

I tried UC33e with a friend, it's a very good control surface but I did not want to have mouse hand all the time and the CPA met my requirements! We control everything from CPA and that's terrible!

What I like most is that we have the management of all settings at your fingertips Live, Live the screen session is carried over to the pads 40 which gives an extraordinary clarity! The potrads faders and meet like clockwork!

The value for money is more than adequate in view of the capabilities of the machine!

I would definitely do it again this choice and attach a APC20 or probably a launchpad to further expand my playground! )

I for one year

I wanted a 100% compatible with Live 8, my choice was directly
40 on the APC, no other model tested.

Nothing to say only negative about this product, stable, efficient.

The only remark, too bad that the sliders are not automated, now, the price would be different, but still, it's a shame.

In fact, since the purchase, I use more PROTOOLS 9 that Live, so my opinion is not very detailed, sorry.

But the use I had with the APC 40, I'm very happy.

I intend for that matter, again used the Live 8 with an APC 40 excellent duo.

The price is right for this kind of material.

I will make that choice again, no problem.

I use it for over a year, and this is not about to stop.
It's not for lack of trying a bunch of other controllers before the APC 40, but it is true that the native side (no assignment to do) of the PCA with 40 Live is a real time saver and fluidity of all trials. The only point where I object is that the matrix Clip Launch only five scenes (horizontal lines on Live), while others, such as Launchpad Novation offers an array of eight scenes, too bad.
Ultimately, a good build quality as Akai knows how, a product with a good quality / price ratio.
If this would do it again without hesitation.

For how long have you been using it? I use it for 2 years, in the evening at home.

Did you try many other models before getting this one? No

What is so special that you like best? The fact that it is full power controller and Ableton Live, these effects, these modules and even the vst entirely by passing the mouse, mix, compound, in the studio, at home or in the evening, it is difficult part with them so they facilitate our vie.La quality knobs & faders is a plus too.

Minimum: For cons the quality is not top of the pads, it is very correct but is an effort to make this side, raising its price slightly, the very very short USB cable (USB extension cable required) .

What is your opinion about the value for the price? Despite its price remains good, as it is very very complete and very practical.

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? Yes

<strong>For how long have you been using it?
<span style="font-weight: normal;">1 month. Including 2 live shows in public. Very intuitive, it leaves a big part to live and gives another vision of ableton, very tactile, very hardware <img class="smiley" src="/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt="" />
</span>

Did you try many other models before getting this one?
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
Not bad for controller evolution uc-16 to pcr-300 through the innovations, the controllers "old school": p no return data, not had the opportunity 'to compare with a launchpad, and another nocturn the same generation, what attracted me to the side "all in one", the only thing it lacks little to my taste would be a few extra pads in the MPD but not in the same spirit ...
</span>

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
Eyes closed completely adapted to my games live ...
</span> What is so special that you like best?
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
Integration into live (Luckily), the side plug and play without making head (iMac OsX.5, Ableton Live 7), touch (the crossfader is really huge, the pads very nice ...)
the least?

Static controller very little customization required to adapt to the live sound controller and not the reverse, but max4live should greatly change the situation ...


What is your opinion about the value for the price?

Value for money very good, yet to see the life long term aspect but it is not at all "cheap"</span></strong>

+ How long are you using it?

A few weeks intensively.

+ Did you try many other models before getting this one?

BCR2000, Korg Nano Series, Novation Launchpad

+ What thing do you like most/least about it?

Pros: negligible latency, quality of construction, colored pads, seamless integration with Live.

Cons: No manual (for beginners) and no template editors (these kind of APC60-40 Hanz Petrov should have been imagined by AkaiPro, which has pro's name).

+ What is your opinion about the value for the price?

The quality / price is fair, we pay dear for a midi controller but the quality of components to air detriment to appointments, replaceable crossfader, nice leds around the knobs. Remains the lack of 'User Profiles' as the launchpad, or rating mode, appeared later on the APC20.

+ Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? ...

Yes, undoubtedly. In the end, despite my reservations about the ease of customization (which is why I put 8 and not 10), it remains for me the best controller for Live to date. With the presets APC60-40 is even a massacre

I bought this controller when it ships. Having started with electronic music hardware, I wanted to find these lost feelings since my Mac. The bet is almost succeeded with the APC 40, the controller integrates seamlessly with Live. Beyond the navigation using the pads (very convenient), the integration of potentiometers is certainly the most interesting function. Using Live on racks in optimizing its set in no time and on stage were all on hand, almost never watch the computer screen and it plays heavily in the report to the public. A big regret, however: the faders are not motorized and it lacks a lot, too bad ... Another weak point, less serious, small caps on the knobs are good in the public and have the annoying tendency to break free and disappear! (He must miss me half now)
Strong point, you can customize its configuration, and then it's great happiness!
For me, this controller has become indispensable!